Stoke sub Hamdon Priory

Originally, a rectory was located on the site, which provided a home for the rector who officiated in the private chapel of St. Nicholas in the Beauchamp manor house nearby. When the rector, Henry de Wyk, resigned in 1304, the lord of the manor, John de Beauchamp, 1st Baron Beauchamp, established a chantry and founded a college for five chaplains. It is suggested in the English Heritage listing that the rectory was probably already owned by the Beauchamps, but if not they purchased it upon de Wyk's departure. The college was composed of four priests governed by a provost, and was attached to the manor house chapel. A National Trust report referenced in the Historic Environment Record could not determine if the pre-1304 rectory was retained for the college's use, or if a new building was erected instead. In 1444, a report by the Bishop of Bath and Wells, Thomas Beckington, recorded that, due to poor management by the provost, the college had fallen into disrepair: the buildings were in a bad state, and only two priests remained alongside the provost, rather than the intended four. Beckington gave the governance of the college to the precentor of Wells, and a few years later the current building was erected. In his article, ''Chantry Priests' Houses and other Medieval Lodgings'', W. A. Pantin suggests that this building is probably smaller than the original college, due to the reduced number of clergy, and that it was most likely erected around 1450–60. From 1473 to 1508 Provost Coorte was in charge; however for 36 years during that time he was non-resident. The college was converted into a private house, and underwent significant renovation. Pantin suggests that the building work can be approximately dated to the period in which the Strode family inhabited the house, based upon an inscription in some panelling, "1585/TS", in which the TS stands for Thomas Strode. three barns (one of which is ruined), a ruined outbuilding and a dovecote. ==Architecture==

The buildings are constructed from Hamstone, a Jurassic limestone quarried on the local Ham Hill. The priory itself is linked to a barn by a wall. It includes a gateway which provides access from North Street. The high wall dates from the 15th century and includes an arched gateway which has a buttress on its western side. The barn is largely from the 18th century; however it incorporates material from the former building. The southern end is supported by two buttresses and the north side includes a door on the first floor. The other barn which is about north west of The Priory was built in the 15th century. It has partially thatched roof, and served as a tithe barn. A further 15th century barn to the west of The Priory is now ruined, following a fire in 1969. It is close to the circular Dovecote which may date from the 14th century. Pigeons and doves were an important food source historically kept for their eggs, flesh, and dung. The main priory building itself is of an L-shaped plan and consists of three unequal wings. The oldest part contains the hall, screens and dormitory. This was built in the 14th century but contains stones from the previous building, which show oblique tooling found in Norman architecture. The two-storey hall is long and wide. It was originally used as the refectory, with a window being added by Bishop Beckington in the 15th century, and later became a coal store. The hall also has arches into bays and an ogee-headed recess which may have been an aumbry. At the eastern end of the hall is a parlour on the ground floor and, on the first floor, is a dormitory. The chapel next to the dormitory can be seen through a squint which is unusually combined with a piscina. The central block south of the hall contains the dining room and kitchen on the ground floor with bedrooms above. Both have chamfered beams made of elm which are approximately long. Centrally between the two rooms is a large medieval fireplace including a bread oven. Next to the kitchen is the large south store. ==See also==